Life in Lockdown – A Personal Blog

I thought I would try something a little different and write a small personal blog  – it’s time to let you all see Gors-lwyd, and me (!) in a different light. What goes on behind the scenes at Gors-lwyd? What’s happening around the Llŷn Peninsula in lockdown? What’s Sam (that’s me by the way) doing when she isn’t welcoming her guests or working part-time (more about “my other job later”).

I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a blog for a while now, but kept putting it to the back of my mind believing that my life isn’t at all interesting enough….but then that’s for you to decide isn’t it?

Things have certainly taken a strange twist of late! I should be busy getting ready to welcome my next guests, but instead here I am sitting in my pyjamas tapping away on my laptop.

I thought of all the things I should be doing right now. I’m feeling guilty because someone has just posted on Instagram that they have “just come back from my early morning run” and “I’ve decorated my kitchen, isn’t it fabulous” …really? Good for you….

I am starting to see what people mean now, when they say that social media can really get you down. If you take it all personally it can make you feel lazy, less adequate, wishing you had their life and not yours etc., etc. It can’t be all sunshine and roses, what they don’t tell you is the worries they have, the personal life which isn’t going quite to plan, the job they hate and the family they long to see but can’t because we all need to stay at home.

It’s time to pull myself together and think positive…..

We have been blessed with glorious weather over the past couple of weeks, so I grabbed the paint and brushes and I’ve been sprucing up the outside of Gors-lwyd. It’s a laborious task and needs to be done every year (especially the north and east facing walls), but when you stand back and the white walls are so bright you need to put sunglasses on, that’s a good feeling.  I may not have any guests now – but the cottage will look fabulous for the when they/you next arrive.

Working outside at Gors-lwyd I get to say “hello” to the villagers who are taking their daily dose of fresh air. We are so fortunate to live here, with Yr Eifl on the doorstep, a daily walk is a joy.

Another advantage of this lockdown is that whilst painting away the day, I’ve met people who live in the village, people I have never met before. It’s also a good opportunity to practice speaking some Welsh…..I’ll put you in the picture first…

I started an on-line course in speaking Welsh a little while ago. A six month course, of which I find myself on week 20. Do you remember the policeman in Allo, Allo? Well sometimes I feel like I must sound like him when I practice on the locals. But, hey, dw i’n trio, I’m trying!

I met a lady the other day and with the intention of practicing a little Welsh conversation, I said; “bore da, dw i newydd ddechrau dysgu siarad Cymraeg” (good morning, I’ve just started to learn to speak Welsh), to which she replied (in English)…”that’s good but we all speak English anyway”. Mmmmm….not quite the reply I was hoping for! We had a laugh anyway!

So enough of this blogging lark, it’s time to go back up to Gors-lwyd to paint inside the stone outbuilding, you know the one with the barbecue, the spare outdoor chairs and the children’s toys – in the hope that it will look a little bit smarter for when you next visit…

Hope to see you all soon…..Hwyl am y tro! Bye for now!